EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY PRINTERS
1716-1717: Matthew Unwin printed Birmingham's first known book in 1716.
1719-1758: Henry Butler. Between about 1724 and 1730 Henry Butler printed images of Newcomen's steam engine.
1727-1755: Thomas Warren Senior. In 1727 Thomas Warren was described as a 'bookseller', and he printed his first known book in 1729 (list of books published).
1741-1761: Thomas Aris. Aris began his newspaper, The Gazette, in 1741 (list of books published ~ Aris's house).
1750-1775: John Baskerville. Baskerville started letter-cutting in about 1750 (Baskerville's house).
1752: Thomas Juxon. In this year Juxon printed a catalogue of inhabitants and tradesmen of Birmingham, which is now lost.
Before 1755-1770: Thomas Warren Junior.
1758-1773: Esther Butler. Esther was probably Henry's widow, or perhaps a daughter. She was at 74 New Street (more about Butler).
1758-1796: Robert Martin: Martin became Baskerville's journeyman in about 1758.
1760-1792: James Sketchley. Sketchley first printed in Birmingham in 1760, but a book printed in Bristol in 1757 bears the imprint 'J. Sketchley & S. Warren'. He printed the first Sketchley's Birmingham Directory in 1763 (though no copies have been found) and was involved in a number of newspaper ventures.
1761-1791: Christopher Earl.
1768-1773: Orion Adams. Involved in a number of newspaper ventures with other printers.
1769-1770: Nicholas Boden.
1770-1796: Thomas Pearson.
1771-1809: Myles Swinney. Printed a number of newspapers, and casted his own type from 1779. Swinney was the printer of Bisset's Magnificent Directory (miscellaneous prints etc). He partnered with John Collins (1796) and Henry Hawkins (1799-1800).
1780-18??: Edward Piercy.
1791-1809: James Belcher Senior.
All "Printing Trade" posts.
Dates active between. Name. Details.
SELECTED ENGRAVERS
Dates active between. Name. Details.
SELECTED ENGRAVERS
1745-c.1800: Robert Hancock. Print engraver and innovator in transfer printing (objects by Robert Hancock).
1796-1830s: Thomas Hancock. Son of Robert Hancock, and engraver of decorative prints and adverts. His shop was on Congreve Street.
Early Booksellers (many of the printers above were also booksellers, those below sold books, but did not print them)
1728-?: Andrew Johnson. Andrew was the uncle to Samuel Johnson, his shop was on High Street.
1737-1753: Francis Woollaston. A bookseller on High Street.
1744: Robert Luke.
1753-?: Pryn Parkes. Parkes takes over from Woollaston in 1753.
Early Booksellers (many of the printers above were also booksellers, those below sold books, but did not print them)
1728-?: Andrew Johnson. Andrew was the uncle to Samuel Johnson, his shop was on High Street.
1737-1753: Francis Woollaston. A bookseller on High Street.
1744: Robert Luke.
1753-?: Pryn Parkes. Parkes takes over from Woollaston in 1753.